Ghamada, a village blessed with diversity

BUKHA: Ghamada is a coastal village in the Wilayat of Bukha in the Musandam governorate. It is one of the largest villages in the wilayat, the others being Al Jadi, Al Jari, Fadghaa and Teibat. Ghamada, characterised by its diverse nature, comprises the coast, valley, plain, high mountains and sand dunes, making it a tourist attraction and an ideal destination for mountaineering enthusiasts and other sports lovers.
In the village, there is an ancient archaeological site dating back hundreds of years, known as “old grandmother.” The remains of houses in a residential neighbourhood and a mosque point to its antiquity. In the middle of the site, there is a graveyard. The area has been inhabited by Omani people since ancient times.
Ghamada is noted for the farms on both sides of the valley, with the luxurious growth of date palms, fruits and other seasonal crops. The village is one of the most fertile areas in the wilayat, along with Al Jadi village. All the farms are irrigated from groundwater wells.
During the rains, water that overflows the valleys is preserved and later used for irrigating the farms.
Agriculture is the main occupation of the people in the village where they grow date palms of various varieties, locally known as Khenezi, Al Lulu, Qash Habash, Al Khasab, Al Marziban and Al Meznaj and fruits like banana, lemon and mango.
Craftsmen in the village make handicraft items. People here had used date-palm fronds for making summer houses in the past, locally called Al Arish, and for roofs of houses. They are also being used in the making of various household items, the profession which is now practised by only a few craftsmen.
Mohammed bin Said al Shehi, a resident, said: “I have been making handicraft items with date-palm fronds for more than 20 years. I prepare the raw materials from the date-palm fronds, which I bring from my farm and store them in the room where I make handicraft products. Collecting the raw materials involves 80 per cent of the work.”
Honey collection is yet another occupation of villagers, especially the youth, because of its good economic returns.
Livestock breeding is also practised by a large number of villagers. This profession is practised by both the young and the old. Most of the goats are domestic, in addition to a few heads of sheep. They graze on the mountains around the village in fertile quarters, and are fed with grains and grass in the dry seasons. There is good demand for them locally, especially during social events and festivals.
Ghamada village is famous for white sand dunes that are formed by wind over the years. They decorate the mountains surrounding the coastal area of the village. — ONA